Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff No playbook. No guardrails. We have a market full of people who already love the product. So bring your operational execution skills, the right AI stack, and a lot of energy! This is Timefold -We’re building the future of intelligent planning. We are an AI planning optimization platform built on powerful, field-proven open-source solver technology. Simply put: we enable software builders to tackle some of the world's most complex, high-impact operational planning problems. From optimizing vehicle routing and employee scheduling to streamlining maintenance planning and field service logistics, our tech delivers massive economic value where it matters most. We are on a relentless mission to free the world from wasteful scheduling! Founded in 2023, we represent the exciting next chapter of OptaPlanner , the legendary, field-proven open-source project that laid the foundation for everything we build today. Today, we are a technically sharp, deeply passionate team of over 40 people. While our headquarters are nestled in the iconic Wintercircus building in Ghent, Belgium, we operate as a remote-first team with vibrant hubs across Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany and the US. We're hiring a Chief of Staff to become the connective tissue between our CEO's vision and the day-to-day reality of running a scaling company. Someone who moves fluidly between a board deck and a go-to-market rollout, between a governance framework and a Slack announcement. This isn't a calendar-and-briefing-book role. You'll co-own how the company operates, and if you're as good as we hope, this is the seat that leads somewhere much bigger. About the role The Chief of Staff sits in the CEO's office . You're the trusted strategic partner who makes sure the leadership team and the wider organisation move with clarity, speed, and alignment — but at Timefold's stage, that is a demanding job in which operational execution will make all the difference. You'll drive cross-functional projects that touch every part of the business, own how Timefold governs itself as it scales, help shape how the platform gets commercialised, and make sure the company's operating rhythm - from OKRs to board updates - actually holds together. If you're looking for a role where you sit next to the CEO and take notes, this isn't it. If you want to be the person who makes sure the company actually executes on what gets decided - and to grow into running large parts of it yourself - keep reading. What the role looks like day-to-day Be the CEO's strategic partner and steward of how the company governs itself Develop a deep understanding of Timefold's business model, product landscape, competitive position, and customer base, and use it to make sure leadership decisions are well-informed, well-timed, and well-communicated. Serve as a close strategic partner to the CEO, representing their perspective in cross-functional discussions and acting as a trusted proxy when needed You will have no direct reports, and yet you will create the drumbeat across the organization Prepare the CEO for internal and external meetings — briefings, board updates, investor communications, and key customer conversations Manage the CEO's strategic priorities and ensure follow-through on key commitments across the organization Support the design and execution of the company's OKR process from goal-setting to quarterly reviews Design and maintain Timefold's company governance framework, in close collab with the Head of People. Team composition and cadence, decision rights, and reporting lines — so accountability stays clear as the company scales Own cross-functional execution Identify, prioritize, and execute the improvement opportunities that prepare the organization for its next stage of growth, from strategic projects to how parts of the business itself are structured. Own and drive high-priority, cross-departmental projects from initiation through to delivery — strategic initiatives, company-wide rollouts, CEO-sponsored programs Coordinate product, engineering, sales, marketing, and customer success on go-to-market projects, product launches, and operational improvements Support the commercialization of Timefold's platform and BYO (bring-your-own) offering — partnering with Product and GTM leadership to design and execute product-led growth motions, such as self-serve onboarding, in-product upgrade paths, and usage-based conversion Partner with the CEO and functional leads to refocus and redesign the Solutions function — clarifying its mandate, structure, and hand-offs with Sales, Product, and Customer Success as the organization grows Facilitate quarterly and annual planning cycles, ensuring alignment between teams and the company's strategic direction Maintain a live view of the company's key initiatives, and proactively flag risks or capacity constraints to leadership Build the communication backbone of a distributed, global team Design and own Timefold's internal communication framework, ensuring information flows clearly, consistently, and in a way that keeps a remote-first team aligned and engaged, wherever they sit. Lead the preparation and facilitation of company-wide rituals such as board meetings, leadership offsites, Foldups, and Team Days Build scalable communication infrastructure — templates, cadences, channels — that keeps pace with a growing, remote-first team Prepare executive presentations, customer-facing materials, investor updates, and board decks in partnership with the CEO and relevant functional leads Support the CEO in managing key external stakeholder relationships — investors, partners, industry analysts, and strategic customers Ensure consistency of Timefold's voice and messaging across every external touchpoint Build the operating system that lets Timefold scale Own the standardisation and adoption of the processes, tools, and best practices that let a fast-growing company keep moving fast, with a particular eye on how leadership time is spent and how cross-functional work actually gets done. Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in how the company operates Drive the leadership team's operating rhythm — weekly leadership syncs, decision logs, action tracking, and closing the loop on what was agreed Deliver input on the design of scalable structures as the company grows You'll be a fit if You think and operate like an owner, not a support function. You'd rather build the plan than just brief someone on it You thrive in ambiguity and move seamlessly between strategic thinking (governance, commercialization strategy, org design) and operational detail (the Slack cadence, the board deck footnote) You build trust easily with stakeholders at every level, from individual contributors to board members You have exceptional written and verbal communication skills (this is critical) You carry a high level of discretion, emotional intelligence, and judgement, and can be trusted with sensitive information You have strong analytical skills — you can structure ambiguous problems, interpret data, and land on a recommendation rather than just a list of options You have some exposure to go-to-market, commercial strategy, or platform/product commercialization — enough to hold your own in a conversation about PLG motions or a BYO planning model offering, even if you've never owned a sales number yourself Prior experience in a Chief of Staff, strategy, business operations, or general management role at a scaling company is a must (10 to 15 years of working experience) What do we offer Culture & Environment At Timefold, we offer more than just a paycheck; we offer a culture where you can thrive. We promise an open and authentic workplace where you will be trusted to act, trusted to ask, and supported as you seek to grow . In return, we look for people who are ready to own and deliver impactful results. Standard Perks A Full Time position in a fast growing start up environment A competitive salary package complemented by a range of local benefits Flexibility to engage as an employee or independent contractor How we work & connect Flexibility: our focus is on your talents, not your location. Choose the working arrangement that suits you best, whether it is hybrid or on-site — with regular presence at the Ghent office for leadership rhythm and check in with the team Our dedication to creating an inclusive environment, where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated with fairness and respect <3 Regular team building activities and gatherings to enhance (international) team spirit and cooperation (this requires a willingness to travel once or twice a year) Locations TF Belgium Office Remote status Hybrid About Timefold Timefold is a VC-backed scale-up based in Ghent, Belgium, and the world's foremost experts in scheduling optimization. Founded in 2023 and headquartered at Wintercircus, we're on a mission to free the world from wasteful scheduling.